Spring suspension for motor cycles



June 12, 1923.

1,458,506 M. T. G. WESSON SPRING SUSPENSION FOR MOTOR CYCLES Filed Maz ch 9. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 12, 1923.

1,458,506 M. r. G. WESSON SPRING SUSPENSION FOR MOTOR CYCLES Filed March 9, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fatente cl June 12, 1923.

Mrs STATES I 1,458,506 PATENT (OFFICEQI MAURICE THOMAS GEORGE WESSON, or RICHMOND, MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, I

- AUSTRALIA. I

SPRING SUSPENSION FOR MOTOR CYCLES.

A lication filed March 9, 1922. ,Serial N10. 542,240.

To all whom it concern:

.Be it known that I, 'M Ri ETHOMAs GEORGE WEssoN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 53 Rowena Pa- Suspensions for Motor Cycles; and I do declare the following-to be a full, clear. and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has been devised to provide improvements in and relating to spring suspension for motor cyclesand embraces features whereby the spring frame will be laterallyrigid and flexible in action, enabling the unsprung weight of the machine to be reduced to a minimum, and in doing so protect the major portion of the mechanism from road shocks and vibrations, eliminating the many strains to which the machine is subjected thus increasing the comfort of the rider and permitting the maintenance of high speed with safety and comfort. Fur

thermore the means employed in this invention to retainv the spring frame rigid and yet. flexible in' action permits the employment (of what is considered in this type of spring suspension of motor cycles long springs), this further feature considerably increases the flexibility of the springs thereby greatly adding to the comfortof the rider. v

In order that my invention may be the more easily understood reference will be made to the accompanying. sheets of drawings in'which I Y g .Fig. 1 is a general view showingthe rear spring suspension hereinafter described.

Fig. 2' is an enlarged View of guides here- .inafter referred to. 1 i

Fig. 3 illustrates a'section of a cradle (gear box platform) which forms a holding base for the lowerends for two quarter elliptic springs and a pillarof the frame.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the guides in position on the frame.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating the manner of connecting the springs to the rear forks of the machine.

I Fig. 6 illustrates in section a hearing hereinafter described.

Fig. 7' illustrates the front spring suspension the mechanism of which operates in conjunction with the rear spring suspension to accomplish the purpose hereinbefore' referred to. 1 I 1 Fig. 8 is an enlarged view illustrating. the manner of attaching each respective spring of the front suspension arrangement whilst I Fig. 9 illustrates drawn to a large scale a lever and its parts hereinafter. referred to. In the accompanying drawings, a. is a frame of a motorcycle, the lower end of the pillar of of such frame a is provided with a holding base consisting of ,a cradle a forming the gear box platform. The post a is disposed in a central position, i. e. between two vertical channels a and a integralwiththe said cradle a and provided at their rear with lugs a for bolts (not shown) referring to the fixing in position of the engine. Disposed and fixed by bolts a within each of suchohannels forming an anchoring base is the, pillar end of a quarter elliptic spring ;b.with a stiffening ring 6 ,To ensure a lateral, rigid, and yet flexible effect inaction, the springs are passed through and neatly fitted in guides comprising plates 6 of a required curve bolted together and separated by sleeves b to form preferably three compartments o b and I), each spring being disposed in the respective outer compartment 5 and 5 The whole structure i. -e. the three guides are rigidly, maintained in the desired position by; an arrangement comprising ablock c disposed in the central compartment ofthe guides,

and integral with. the pillar a of the framea, and a pillar b one end of which is brazed to the rear stationary sleeve 6 of the compartment forming thecentral guide, the lower end ofthesaid pillar 67 being brazed to the post 9 hereinafter referred The guide plates 79 are held together by diagonal rods 0 bolted to the outer ends of the horizontal bolt 0 at. each side of the compartments 7) and b, the'outer ends of such rods being fixed to the'frame c forming the auxiliary seat of the machine, This arrangement provides an additional means for supporting and retaining the guides in their rigid position before stated. Each spring Z) is fastened at its upper or outer end (to allow a required movement). to a bolt cl supported by the rear .forksd whose lower ends are hinged'to bearing pins 03 of the rear bifurcated plates d Integral with the latter are the chain or rear stay bars e connected at their other end to a pivotal bearing mounted at the top of the vertical web-piece e formingpart of the cradle a such bearing comprises (see Fig. 6) a king bolt f'with thrust ball races 7; such bolt f is keyed to the ends of the chainsta-ys e and is provided with an internal lubricating reservoir 7' with screw cap f the lubricant feeding through holes f to a phosp'hor bronze brush f enclosed in bracket 7. To increase the rigidity of the post a and also form a supporting and holding means for the pillar b I provide a tubular post 9 positioned at the rear of the pillar a the lower end of the post 9 being brazed to the bracket '7 aforesaid, and the upper? end brazed to the pillar a below the guides and in contact with and supporting the block 0 Referring to the front spring suspension, each of the sprin s j when in position will lie at each side of the Wheel 7' their inner ends j :being held ('seeFig. 8') in a recess 7' provided, in the ribbed plate i under the steering head of the machine and integral with both forks k above the wheel 9' Each of the inner ends j of the spring are held by a clamp comprising plates m, bolts on and nuts Each spring j extendsoutwardly for 'som'e distance where they are connected to a bolt n attached to the suspensionfork 11 the upper curved portion of which surrounds the rim of the wheel j and proceeds diagonally and downwardly toa position adjacent to the end of the front forks k of the machine. Each member of the suspension fork n at its lower end.- is bifurcated (see Fig.9) and is hinged to a lever arm n integral with the movable sleeve n 'on 'a horizontal screw-pin portion 12; fixed to the plate at the bottom of the fork 7c. The axle (not shown) of the front wheel repose's in the slot 70 provided in the plate M; The usual stay bars 0 are provided to add rigidity to the front forks '7: and convenient oil cups p are disposed where reuired.

' It will be seen that when the rear wheel receives a-road shockto cause a vertical periodicity the outer ends of the hinged chain or rear stays will move vertically and radially causing the hinged rear forks to makean upward movement simultaneously taking a diagonal direction. This action raises the ends of both springs so that the full elasticity of both springs over the entire length is brought at the same time into play,

during which each spring remains laterally rigid. On the front wheel receiving a road shock the axle will move radially and upwardly causing both of the hinged levers to make the same movement compelling both members of the suspension fork to move upward'ly and radially andin doing so raise the outer ends of both springs to obtain the identical efiect described above in connection with the rear springs.

I claim: v

1. In a motor and similar cycles, a horizontal frame bar, a part depending therefrom, a cradle member at the lower end of the depending part, stay bars pivotally connected at corresponding ends to the rear end of the cradle and adapted at the their other endsto receive the axle of a wheel, forks pivotally connected at corresponding ends to the free ends of the stay bars and springs fixed at one end in the front end of the cradle member and at their other ends pivotal ly connected to the other ends of the said forks.

2. In a motor and similar-"cycles, a horizontal frame bar, a bar depending therefrom, a'U-shaped cradle at 'the lower end of the depending bar, stay bars pivotally connected at corresponding ends at one end of the cradle member and adapted at their other ends to receive the axle of a wheel, forks pivotally connected at corresponding ends to the free ends of the stay bars,'a'nd springs fixed at one end in the other end of the cradle member and attheir'other ends pivotally connected to the other ends of the forks.

3. Inja motor and similar cycles, a horizontal frame bar, a bar depending there'-.

from, a U-shaped cradle at the lower end of the depending bar, stay bars 'pivotally connected at corresponding ends to one end of the cradle member and adapted at their opposite ends to receive the axle of a Wheet, forks pivotally connected at corresponding ends to the free ends of the stay bars,sprin"gs fixed at one end in the other end of the cradle member and at their other ends pivotally connected to the 1 other ends of. the forks, and guide members associated with the depending barand 'through which the' springs pass to thereof. v

4. In a motor and similar cycles, a horizontal frame bar. a bar depending therefrom, a U-shaped cradle at the lower 'end of the depending bar, staybars pivotally connected at corresponding ends'to one end of the cradle member and adapted attheir opposite ends to receive the axleof a wheel, forks pivotally connected sit-corresponding ends to the free ends'ofthe stay bars, springs fixed aton'e end in the other end of the prevent lateral movement cradle member and at their other end's pi-vassociated Withthe pivotally mounted ends bars at their opposite or free ends being two subscribing'witnesses.

an end portion of the credle, stay bars pit Inember and pivotally connected fit their 10 I otally mounted onthehollow bolt, bearings other ends in the other ends of thet'orks.

In testimony whereof I have signed my of the stay bars and the hollow bolt, the stay nam his sp fi a n in the adapted to receive the axle of a Wheel, fork mimics THOMAS claoncewzsson. members pivotally connected at correspond- Witnesses ing ends to the freeends "ofthe stay bars, AUGUSTINE-S. MADDEN,

and springs secured atone end in the cradle f IVY DONOHUE. 7

presence of 1 I 

